Page 71 of Hunted

Pepper was standing behind her. “The best,” she said. “You don’t have to worry about him, dear granddaughter.”

I handed Tallin over to Evie. “Thank you,” I said. “And if I can fix… this, as well… I will.”

“I am not sure Arcadia will be willing to grant me my immortality once more, but even if she doesn’t, I am happy with my decision.”

I stood, looked at the portal, and then took a deep breath. I noticed, then, that Evie, Pepper, and even Helen were all moving away from me. When I turned around, I saw Valerian coming up to me, and my heart didn’t know what to do. It wanted to skip faster, and stop beating, at the same time.

When he reached me, his eyes went to the portal first. I was about to open my mouth when Valerian spoke.

“I have drawn a sword many times in my life,” he said. “I have fought many battles, some I have won, others I have lost. I have encountered creatures even stranger than the one that has been hunting us ever since the night you decided to change your fate, and by extension mine.”

“I’m sorry,” I said.

He turned to look at me. “Youwerereckless,” he said. “Andselfish. You tried to take control of your own life at a time when you thought you had none, and you did it the only way you thought you could.”

I frowned at him. “Are you… trying to hurt me?”

“I have also been selfish, and reckless at times. But wanting to take ownership over your own life, wanting to be the master of your own fate… that is not something to be ashamed of, or to apologize for.”

“But I got you mixed up in all this as well.”

“You did nothing of the sort. We both have Fate to blame for that.” He paused, looked over at the portal, then back at me. “The biggest crime, I think, was thinking you couldn’t be honest with me from the beginning.”

“Valerian, we were strangers. I didn’t know who you were, and you didn’t know who I was. I thought you might try to… get revenge. Maybe with a sword.”

“Do I look like someone who… actually, don’t answer that.”

“It’s probably best that I don’t.” I shook my head, then sighed. “I’m still not being honest with you.”

“You aren’t?” he asked.

“No. The real reason I didn’t tell you was, again, because I was selfish. I thought if I told you, you would leave me… and I would be alone. I was scared, Valerian. The last thing I wanted was to be left alone in all this.”

“Why did you think I would leave?”

“I don’t know. Then I got to know you, and I got to like you, and even though the reason why I didn’t want to tell you was the same, my motives changed.”

Valerian’s eyebrow arched. “You…likedme?”

I rolled my eyes. “Shut up.”

“No, wait. I want to examine that.”

“Look, I think it’s pretty obvious. I avoided you for days, I was awkward around you, my feelings are clearly a mess, and all that was before I realized we had a Fate Bond. Imagine how I felt after.”

“Probably the same way I did. Angry. Confused… among other things.”

“Angry?”

“I think I’ve made it pretty clear where I stand on royalty and pageantry, and you’re a Princess.”

“Andyou’rearrogant.”

“Which is also a trait common in royalty.”

“Okay, that’s not necessary. First of all—”

“—they’re so cute, aren’t they?” I heard Evie whisper.